April 5, 2006 – Vertex Pharma is beginning a Phase II trial of VX-680 as a treatment for colorectal cancer, triggering a $10 million milestone from Merck; the FDA wants Discovery Labs to provide more information about Surfaxin, which sent the stock to a new low; Neurocrine touted a journal article showing positive data for indiplon, a sedative; Bioenvision said that Evoltra produced a response in 92% of leukemia patients; QLT signed a deal with Retinagenix to develop synthetic retina products; Introgen said MDA-7 killed cisplatin-resistant cancer cells in a laboratory test; Affymetrix granted a non-exclusive license to Abbott to use its genomic microarrays; and Ortec International floated $6.2 million in preferred stock so that it could buy Hapto Biotech. The Centient Biotech 200™ slipped 16 points lower to 3928.15, a loss of .40%. More details...
